Mad, bad and dangerous

The executives See me campaign is based on commercial pressures not clinical fact, and is best ignored by the afflicted, writes Tim Luckhurst

In April 2000, after months as acting editor of The Scotsman, my employer informed me that the trial period was over. I was appointed editor. Two weeks later, during my first full weekend break of the year, I collapsed at our family home in France. My blood pressure was raised. I had bronchitis. For months I had been too tense to sleep. My family was sick of hearing me lose my temper over trivial irritations. When I was at home all I did was shout and smoke. I should see a doctor.

It seemed sensible, so I flew back to Glasgow and an urgent appointment with my GP. He could not have been kinder. Calmly but firmly he informed me that the physical symptoms were real, but not grave. The core problem was bigger. I was clinically depressed. He ordered me to take a minimum initial break of four weeks,